If you’re a country music lover, there’s no better place than Stagecoach Festival! Held every year at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, CA, Stagecoach is often called “Coachella with a twang.” It features the best acts in pop country, alt-country, Americana, bluegrass, and more. For one weekend in the desert, thousands of fans gather to celebrate music and get a little bit country.
Past performers at this one-of-a-kind country festival include music icons like Garth Brooks, Miranda Lambert, Taylor Swift, Willie Nelson, Carrie Underwood, and more. But it’s also home to indie acts, emerging artists, and fun non-musical attractions like the Kansas City BBQ Society Invitational Championship.
Whether you’re staying at a hotel or camping on the festival grounds for this year’s country music festival, we know you’ll have a great time. As we get ready for the revelry, let’s look back on some of the all-time best moments from past Stagecoach festivals:
Country Music Festival History
Although the Coachella Music and Arts Festival often steals the spotlight, Stagecoach is a legendary part of country music festival history.
In 2007, the same organizers behind Coachella decided to branch out and curate a weekend of music for country fans. Five years later, in 2012, Stagecoach reached an exciting milestone with its first sold-out weekend of 55,000 attendees. Since then, the festival has expanded and increased its capacity. The 2019 festival saw 80,000 fans gather in celebration of their love for country music.
Stagecoach has also played a role in pop culture as a destination for contestants of The Bachelor and its many fans, known as “Bachelor Nation.” Reportedly, much of the drama from the spinoff show Bachelor In Paradise occurred as a result of romantic entanglements that happened at Stagecoach.
If you’re a Lady Gaga fan, you’ll also know this desert country music festival from her 2018 film A Star Is Born co-starring Bradley Cooper. Many of the outdoor concert scenes in this film were shot on-location at Stagecoach.
Best Performances from Past Festivals
In its 18 year history, Stagecoach has hosted countless amazing musical moments on its stages at the Empire Polo Club. If we tried to list them all, this blog could fill a book! At Xpress Shuttles, we’ve transported many festivalgoers over the years and heard stories about truly iconic moments. Here are some of our favorites:
Festival Firsts in 2007
The very first festival in 2007 set the bar high. Despite its relatively small size, the first Stagecoach boasted incredible acts like the John Cowan Band, folk music hero Kris Kristofferson, Lucinda Williams, Drive By Truckers, Emmylou Harris, Willie Nelson, and more. Prairie Home Companion’s Garrison Keillor also dropped in on the festival’s Mustang Stage with a humorous cowboy song and folksy musings that delighted the crowd.
Although the festival has since grown in size and become a more streamlined production, the 2007 Stagecoach is fondly remembered as the weekend that started it all.
Willie Nelson & Friends
Fast forward to 2024. Willie Nelson returned for an epic set accompanied by Jelly Roll, Ernest and Charley Crockett, and his son Lukas Nelson. This star-studded supergroup performed a jam edition of “Will the Circle Be Unbroken,” as well as beloved hits like “On the Road Again” and “Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys.“
The crowd went wild, celebrating Willie and his friends. To top off the festivities, this performance happened right before the iconic musician’s birthday. Two days later, Willie Nelson turned 92!
Lana Del Rey’s Drop-In
You never know who will drop in at a music festival in Indio, CA. Last year, pop queen Lana Del Rey surprised the Stagecoach crowd after her headlining sets at Coachella two weekends prior.
Del Rey appeared alongside country singer Paul Cauthen on his Friday night set. The pair harmonized on a beautiful cover of the classic song “Unchained Melody,” originally made famous by Elvis Presley.
Lil Nas X & Billy Ray Cyrus
In 2018, Lil Nas X burst onto the music scene with “Old Town Road,” a cross-over mega hit fusing hip hop with a country twang. The song quickly became a massive phenomenon that topped the Billboard charts. Country singer Billy Ray Cyrus later collaborated with Lil Nas X on a popular remix.
Then, in 2019, the pair appeared at Stagecoach to perform the song live together for the first time. This secret, unannounced performance happened at the end of Diplo’s late night Saturday set. For fans who stayed, it was a pop culture moment they’ll never forget.
Lynyrd Skynyrd Brings the Hits
Lynyrd Skynyrd also performed at the 2019 festival on the Palomino Stage. The fan-favorite Southern Rock titans proved they still have it, thrilling the audience with a rousing set full of their greatest hits like “Sweet Home Alabama” and “Free Bird.”
Everyone watching sang along, danced, and celebrated together under the desert stars. Attendees of all generations agreed that the moment was iconic.
Jason Aldean’s Triumphant Return
But the best Stagecoach moment may belong to Jason Aldean in 2019.
Whether you’re a country fan or not, you may remember Jason Aldean as the performer who was headlining the Route 91 festival in Las Vegas – a concert that turned into tragedy. On October 1, 2017, a shooter opened fire on the festival grounds, killing 60 people and wounding 413.
On Sunday night of Stagecoach 2019, Jason Aldean returned to the spotlight to commemorate those lost at Route 91. Before launching into his song “When She Says Baby,” Aldean addressed survivors in the crowd, saying, “The last time we were together, this song got cut off.” The performance was heartfelt, raw, and brought everyone together – embodying the very best of the spirit of country music.
Giddyup to Stagecoach 2025
We hope these moments inspire you and get you excited for Stagecoach 2025, which is held in Indio, CA on the weekend of April 25-27.
For a limited time, Xpress Shuttles is offering a special transportation and hotel bundle during festival season in the desert. Learn more about our VIP Experience Packages or call 866-805-4234 to book.
NOTE: Xpress Shuttles Desert Festival VIP Experience Packages are not administered by, endorsed by, or otherwise affiliated with Stagecoach Festival, Goldenvoice, Empire Polo Club, the city of Indio, or Coachella Music and Arts Festival. For more information, please call the number listed above.